She works with humility, engaging students and their elders with respect. She is surrounded by racism and ageism, yet she never loses sight of her end goal: to teach others by accepting them where they are. Her adversities make her “real” for the people she serves. She is empathetic, not just sympathetic, yet she encourages people to take time to breathe and experience the hardship, absorb its lessons, and move forward. She understands that we don’t have the same obstacles and what is easy for her, will be difficult for someone else. She stands at your side and encourages you, helps you look for the opportunity, to plan for the future.

Stacy Young – Humboldt County Office of Education

Dionna is a leader in the county’s movement towards equity, diversity and inclusion. She amplifies and elevates the voices and actions of people of color. She is also a bridge-builder who is skilled at bringing up sensitive topics in a way white people can hear and understand and learn from. Her effervescent energy creates a sense of joy for whoever is in the room with her.

Sarah Peters Gonzalez – OpenArts

Dionna is very knowledgeable and compassionate.  She is a great thinking partner.  I have learned a lot of organizational and tech skills from our teaming.

Sharrone Blanck – Eureka NAACP